Tecno Mobile and Infinix Mobility, two smartphone brands owned by the same company, Transsion Holdings, have two competing smartphones in the budget segment.
You’ve probably heard about the Infinix Hot series, but it’s the first time we are seeing the new Tecno Spark series, which has a new budget phone dubbed Tecno Spark K7. In fact, this phone is already available for purchase on Kilimall and like the Spark K7, the Infinix Hot 5 is also targeting the entry-level market. But which one should you buy? Let’s find out.
Design and display
Both Tecno and Infinix are doing some amazing jobs in the entry-level smartphone market. Both the Infinix Hot 5 and Tecno Spark K7 show off two phones with solid builds, but of course, don’t expect the premium metallic designs that are associated with the likes of Infinix Zero and Tecno Phantom families.
In short, the design aspect will be down to personal preference, but the two phones look great. For the display, you also get the same package on the pair. There’s a 5.5-inch HD panel, but there’s no Gorilla Glass protection, so be careful when handling either phone.
Verdict: Draw
Processor and software
In terms of processing power, the Tecno Spark K7 ships with a MediaTek MT6580 quad-core processor clocked at 1.3GHz, same as the unit that powers the Infinix Hot 5.
Despite their similarities in terms of processors, the Spark K7 sits on the losing end thanks to the fact that the Infinix Hot 5 comes with a 2GB RAM module as opposed to the 1GB RAM module used on the K7. As for the software, the pair has Android 7.0 Nougat running the show out of the box, with the K7 customized along the HiOS lines while the Hot 5 has the company’s XOS skin on top.
Verdict: Hot 5 wins
Storage and camera
When it comes to the storage available, the two phones have the same 16GB units on board. Also, you can expand the storage on either phone using a microSD card of up to 32GB, which isn’t bad at all. The two have quite different cameras, where the back of the Tecno Spark K7 has a 13MP sensor, you find an 8MP shooter on the back of the Infinix Hot 5, both with LED flash units. As for the selfie cameras, you get the same 5MP sensors, but the Hot 5 also gets a LED flash.
Of course, each brand has a different approach to photography courtesy of the camera apps. If anything, this should prove to be the major difference in image quality between the two, but on paper, the K7 wins the battle.
Verdict: Spark K7 wins
Battery and price
If you are after a device that will not worry you when on the road, the Infinix Hot 5 is your go-to option. This is because the phone has a massive 4000mAh battery unit on board compared to the 3000mAh unit used on the Spark K7. This should really work in favor of the Infinix phone.
As for the pricing, the Infinix Hot 5 is a little pricier at Ksh 10,199, but the difference isn’t so big when compared to the Ksh 9,999 price tag of the Tecno Spark K7. For a price difference of Ksh 200, the Hot 5 is definitely worth it.
Verdict: Hot 5 wins
Extras
Each of these two phones has a bunch of unique features that set it apart from the competition. For instance, the Infinix Hot 5 has front-facing dual speakers with Dirac Stereo Widening technology to give you a truly immersive audio experience. The Spark K7, on the other hand, can shoot selfie photos with a wide-angle view of up to 120 degrees, something selfie lovers will definitely enjoy, especially when taking group selfies.
Both phones have a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, support 3G connectivity (no 4G LTE) and have two SIM card slots. In terms of color variants, the Tecno Spark K7 is available in Metallic Red, Phantom Black, Champagne Gold, and Coral Blue. On the other hand, you can grab the Infinix Hot 5 in Champagne Gold, Super White, Apple Green, Bordeaux Red or Sandstone Black.
Verdict: Hot 5 wins
So, which one do you think is the better phone between the two? From the count of wins, it’s obvious that the Infinix Hot 5 carries the day. But do you agree? Let us know in your comments below.
